David with the Head of Goliath
c. 1607-1610 Galleria Borghese, Rome
About this artwork
This dramatic oil painting captures the biblical hero David holding the severed head of Goliath. It is a powerful example of Caravaggio's use of tenebrism and psychological intensity.
Did you know?
One of Caravaggio's most psychologically charged works, it is widely believed that the artist depicted himself as the severed head of Goliath. This self-portrait, rendered in his final turbulent years, has been interpreted as a plea for mercy or a confession of his own violent past, making the painting a profoundly personal statement.
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David with the Head of Goliath
Michelangelo da Caravaggio, c. 1607-1610
